Man City line up £100m bid for Fernando Torres
Manchester City are preparing to stun the football world this summer with a staggering £100million bid for Liverpool striker Fernando Torres.
In a move that will eclipse Manchester United's £80m sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid last summer, City will flex their financial muscles and smash the transfer record for a player regarded as the best forward in the game.
And if 25-year-old Torres moves to Eastlands he'll become the first star to earn a £200,000-a-week salary in a deal that could net him £50m over five years.
Those are the astonishing figures being assembled by City chiefs who are determined to land the stellar signing who will form the figurehead of their drive to join the world's elite clubs.
Chief executive Garry Cook failed to entice former AC Milan star Kaka to Manchester exactly a year ago in a deal that would have been worth £100m.
Now though, City believe their increased profile and their intended aim of becoming a major power in the game is being taken seriously - and the time is right to turn that ambition into reality.
Blockbuster New boss Roberto Mancini has impressed City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan and chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak so much, he has already been told that if City clinch a Champions League place the club will back him with a blockbuster signing.
The word around Eastlands is that player will be Torres - with Mancini knowing a world class striker is the key to City becoming a major force in Europe once they have qualified for the Champions League.
City's interest in Torres will be a damning blow for Liverpool who have encountered major problems on and off the pitch this season.
Kop boss Rafa Benitez will fight hard to keep Torres at Anfield and may even make a stand by saying he'll walk if the Spain international is sold.
But even Benitez will recognise it would be hard for Liverpool's warring owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett to refuse a bid approaching £100m - especially with the club desperate for a fresh injection of cash.
Benitez still insists Liverpool's experience and pedigree means they can fight off competition from City, Aston Villa and Spurs and clinch fourth place this season.
But if they don't finish fourth Liverpool will be more vulnerable than ever to a huge City bid for Torres.
ALEX FERGUSON has ignited a new Carlos Tevez storm by insisting the Manchester City star should be BANNED from Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final showdown at Old Trafford.
The Manchester United manager is adamant Tevez should have been sent off in City's 2-1 first leg triumph over their bitter rivals at Eastlands and can't stop himself from talking about City at every opportunity, even after yesterdays 4-0 demolision of Hull.
Referee Mike Dean did not even caution the Argentine match-winner for an X-rated lunge on United defender Wes Brown.
But Fergie fumed: "Tevez should have been sent off, really. Have you seen that tackle? He went right over the ball. But he didn't even get booked."
A red card would have meant an automatic three-match ban for the former United striker, who has been at the centre of controversy ever since the two sides were drawn to play each other in the semi-final.
First United skipper Gary Neville accused Tevez of not being worth £25million and insisted Fergie was right to let him join City in the summer.
Tevez hit back by taunting both Fergie and Neville on the pitch after his two goals clinched City's win and then branded the defender "stupid" and "a bootlicker."
Fergie's outburst comes just days after the FA reminded both sides of their responsibilities on the pitch in a bid to prevent crowd trouble in the return leg.
But Fergie blasted the FA for sticking their nose in, adding: "Is that the FA's domain? It is the League Cup. Bloody hell, what next?
"Tevez should have been sent off, really. Other than that, nothing happened in the game.
"It was competitive but there were no confrontations on the pitch, nothing."
However, United are beefing up security ahead of Wednesday's clash. Police fear trouble will erupt between the two sets of supporters and have cancelled all leave for their officers on the day.
City are taking 9,000 fans to Old Trafford as they close in on their first Wembley final since the 1986 Full Members Cup.
Greater Manchester Police plan to use sniffer dogs to stop any supporters trying to smuggle flares into Old Trafford.
There are fears City fans have bought tickets in the United end after the Reds put them on general sale.
Police are also planning to keep City fans locked in at Old Trafford immediately after the final whistle to prevent any trouble outside the stadium.
But Fergie tried to play down the importance of the game, insisting: "I won't be relishing this more than any other game this season.
"At the outset the object was to qualify for the final and we can still do that.
"I always said the game was going to be decided at Old Trafford and that's the case."
Manchester City are set for further talks with Real Madrid this evening over the signing of Argentinean defensive midfielder Fernando Gago .
Spanish newspaper AS reports that Gago is determined to leave the Bernabeu after struggling for first team appearances this season.
Gago’s agent, Marcelo Lambilla arrived in Madrid yesterday and is expected for talks with Real Madrid sporting director Jorge Valdano and president Florentino Perez today.
Manchester City have bid 15 million euros for Gago but Real Madrid are seeking around 25 million.
Further negotiations are expected between the two clubs after the match between Real Madrid and Malaga this evening.
Fernando Gago has made just seven appearances for Real Madrid this season, he joined from Boca Juniors in 2007 for 20.5 million euros.
If Gago signs in the coming days, it would be Roberto Mancini's second signing for Manchester City since becoming the new boss at Eastlands at the end of December.
WAG OF THE DAY
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TRANSFER BOLLOX
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will allow defender Nemanja Vidic to join Barcelona for £25m this summer - with Juventus's £12m-rated Giorgio Chiellini his replacement. News of the World
Arsenal are set to bid for the £8m-rated Fulham defender Chris Smalling. Mail on Sunday
The Gunners have also emerged as the favourites to sign Crystal Palace striker Victor Moses.Sunday Telegraph
Chelsea are close to signing Adam Johnson from Middlesbrough in a £5m deal that will see the England Under-21 winger remain at the Riverside until the summer. The People
Tottenham have offered striker Robbie Keane to West Ham in a bid to lure forward Carlton Cole to White Hart Lane. News of the World
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp will attempt to overcome his dismay at missing out on Ruud van Nistelrooy by signing AC Milan striker Klaas-Jan Hunterlaar on loan. Everton and West Ham are also interested in the Dutch international. Mail on Sunday
Wigan are plotting a transfer window move to bring fans' favourite Jason Roberts back to the DW Stadium. Latics boss Roberto Martinez is considering a £1m offer for the Blackburn striker. News of the World
Monaco forward Eidur Gudjohnsen is set to snub a move to Liverpool in favour of joining West Ham.Sunday Mirror
Manchester United have expressed an interest in Atletico Madrid's Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea. Sunday Mirror
Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy has agreed terms with West Ham and could complete a £2.5m move to Upton Park in time for Tuesday's Premier League game against Portsmouth. Sunday Times
German side Bayern Munich are considering a bid for Everton's South African midfielder Steven Pienaar as they prepare for the exit of Franck Ribery in the summer. Sunday Times
Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon are trying to sign 26-year-old winger Ricardo Quaresma on loan from Inter Milan for the rest of the season. IM Scouting
Key Barcelona duo Carles Puyol and Xavi, have told manager Pep Guardiola that Robinho would hurt team spirit in the dressing room if the Brazilian was to come to the club for the rest of the season. Mail on Sunday
Watford have tabled an offer to land Egyptian goalkeeper Essam Al Hadary, 37, on loan until the end of the season from Ismaily, according to reports from Egypt.IM Scouting
OTHER BOLLOX
Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina is close to signing a new five-year deal, worth £23m, at Anfield.
Full story: News of the World
Guus Hiddink is set to quit as Russia manager next week, with Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City all likely to be prepared to offer him a job. Mail on Sunday
Portsmouth expect their transfer embargo to be lifted on Monday after club sources claim Udinese have agreed to the rescheduling of the balance of around £3.6m still owed for the transfer of Sulley Muntari in 2007. The Observer
Striker Nicolas Anelka's future at Chelsea is in doubt after talks over a new £120,000-a-week contract stalled. News of the World
Everton look set to shelve plans to move away from current stadium Goodison Park.News of the World
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley will impose a wage ceiling of £30,000-a-week on any new signings if they are promoted to the Premier League. Sunday Express
Blue Square Premier side Salisbury City and Blue Square North duo Northwich Victoria and Farsley Celtic may all be demoted by the Football Conference at the end of this season unless they pay their creditors in full by the second Saturday in May. (Non-League Paper)
Manchester United defender Gary Neville appears to have previous when it comes to spats with Argentines, according to former Red Devils team-mate Juan Sebastian Veron.
Veron revealed: "One Christmas we went out to celebrate and I invited Argentine rugby players Agustin Pichot and Felipe Contepomi, who were playing in England."I started to sing 'Let's go Argentina' and then Neville started to sing for England. So I hit him on the head with the microphone and there was a big fight. There was blood everywhere."News of the World
Fifa president Sepp Blatter has revealed that goalline technology will be discussed at a meeting in March. He told newspaper SonntagsBlick: "If the goalline technology is ready to be adopted, then I am only in agreement."
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